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The home side looked the more purposeful team from the first whistle and their fans would have expected a total onslaught after Obada unlocked Santos’ defence with a great run, but that move came to a grinding halt when goalkeeper Lee Langveldt grabbed the Nigerian’s low cross.
United’s next meaningful attempt on their opponents' goal came in the 20th minute when Gert Schalkwyk spotted Langeveldt off his line and duly attempted to lob the keeper, but the attempt flew just over the crossbar.
Four minutes later, Mor Diouf was given shooting space in the Santos goal area during a set-piece, but the burly defender sent his drive wide.
Langeveldt was called into action once again in the 32nd minute, on this occasion he had to deal with a Kurt Lentjies strike from about 20 metres away. All the keeper could do was to parry the ball to safety.
The Santos goalkeeper was easily the busiest player on the park in the first half and in the 40th minute he had to make another timely intervention.
United’s Christian Adler bent a free-kick around the Santos defensive wall but Langeveldt was able to make an acrobatic catch.
The visitors continued in their defence minded mode from the start of the second half, and relied on counter attacking raids which seldom materialised as a route to the United goals.
The game’s only goal came when Obada stripped the Santos defence on the right flank and darted into the opposition’s penalty area, where he unleashed a powerful low strike that had the beating of Langeveldt in the 73rd minute.
The visitors had to deal with another setback two minutes later when Tyren Arendse received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
The Team of Choice controlled play for the remaining minutes and bagged three much-needed points.
